I dunno if you guys noticed but the it has been said by Nissan that the next generation Maxima will be made from a stretched out Altima platform. The problem is that the Altima platform is FWD. Are we to assume that the next Maxima will continue to be FWD??. If there is an increase in power or bigger engine in the new Maxima, would you want a FWD car?...not me!. If power stays the same and Nissan makes the car bigger they will kill the Maxima as we know it. This is scary, I hope Nissan doesn't turn its flagship into another Toyota Avalon.

 

I think they '03 or '04 max is rumored to have RWD and be a full size sedan.

 

It's hard to tell by looking at the pics. And the brochure doesn't state GVW or wheelbase. But it looks like the 2002 is the same size as the 5th Gen.

Time will tell.

 

I was talking about the 6th gen.

 

I was assured by some "higher-ups" at Nissan that the Maxima was NOT going the way of the Avalon. It sounds like it'll be a pretty dramatic change, though, and will still be the premier car in Nissan's sedan line.

 

The body change won't come until 2003. The 2002 is exactly the same structurally except for the engine and some exterior and interior cosmetic changes plus the addition of the navigation system.